Moving stairway protective device



Mar@ i3. H. s. ECKERSON fr AL M054? T TIVE DEVICE Filed Jan.V 26, 1937 Hmm wglmvamoras Patented Mar. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES MOVING STAIRWAY PROTECTIVE DEVICE Harold Irving Eckerson, Flushing, Maurice Frederick Finn, New York, and Samuel Gustave Margles, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignors to Otis Elevator Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 26, 1937, Serial No. 122,388

6 Claims.

The invention relates to moving stairway protective devices.

In a moving stairway installation, the step treads are usually provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending cleats. Comb plates are provided at the ends of the stairway, the teeth of thev comb plates extending into the grooves between the cleats and being inclined upwardly therefrom to facilitate the exit of passengers from the stairway. Clearance is allowed for manufacturing purposes between the underside of the comb plate teeth and the bottom of the tread grooves and between the undersideof the comb plate platform and, the top of the cleats.

It is the object of the invention to iill in or close the space between the comb plate teeth and the bottom of the tread grooves and between the comb plate platform and the top of the cleats in such way as to permit free movement of the treads beneath the comb plate and at the same time resist the pressure of anything which the tread tries to carry along with it underneath the comb plate or which it is attempted to force thereunder.

In carrying out the invention, material is secured to the underside of the comb plate in the space between the teeth and the tread grooves and in the space between the underside of the comb plate platform and the top of the cleats. This material is tough and firm, so as effectively to resist the passage under the comb plate of anything' carried by the step tread and yet it is comp-ressible or deformable and elastic so as not to damage the step treads as they pass beneath the comb plate. This material may be applied in the form of strips which extend to the forward edge of the comb plate teeth and platform and is preferably of a thickness to completely ll these spaces.

Features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the specification and appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a portion of a moving stairway showing the comb plate equipped with protective means in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a View in vertical section of the arrangement of Figure 1 taken between the teeth of the comb plate, illustrating cleats of a step tread passing beneath the comb plate; and

Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring to Figure l, It is the balustrade on one side of the upper end of an ascending stairway. The steps of the stairway are designated l I, While the comb plate is designated I2. The comb plate is hinged as indicated at I3 by a tongue and groove joinder to the floor plate I4 to permit vertical adjustment of the toothed end of .the comb plate.

Referring also to Figures 2 and 3, each step comprises a step fram-e i5 to which is secured a tread plate it usually made up of a plurality of sections. The tread plate is formed with a plurality of longitudinally extending cleats ll. The comb plate is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending teeth it which are in sta.,- gered relation with the cleats so as to extend into the tread grooves 2t. The forward ends 2| of the teeth are below the top of the treads and slope upwardly back to the comb plate platform 22, emerging from the treads before the platform is reached. This facilitates the passengers leaving the stairway, gradually forcing the feet of a person from the tread onto the comb plate platform in the event he neglects to step from the tread as the end of the stairway is reached.

Clearance is provided between the teeth of the comb plate and the bottom of the tread grooves and also between the top of the cleats and the underside of the comb plate platform. The clearance between the comb plate platform and the tops of the cleats may be greater than that between the teeth and the bottom of the tread grooves for certain types of moving stairways, because of the possibility of a tilt of the step as it enters the comb plate, due to the weight of a passenger being concentrated on the rear of the step. Such clearance difference has been illustrated, but it is to be understood that the amount of clearance at these points depends upon the form of stairway construction and may be the same.

To minimize this clearance, a guard is provided beneath the comb plate. This guard is illustrated as in the form of guard strips 24 secured to the underside of the comb plate teeth at the forward ends thereof and guard strips 25 secured to the underside of the comb plate platform at the forward end thereof Vand in the grooves 23 between the teeth, strips 25 being preferably bevelled upwardly at their forward ends as indicated in Figure 2. It is to be understood that the strips 24 may also be bevelled upwardly at their forward ends if desired. These strips are preferably of a thickness to take up the space respectively between the teeth and the bottom of the tread grooves and between the underside of the comb plate platform and the top of the cleats. It is preferred that these strips be of a material which is firm and tough so as to resist the pressure of anything which the tread tries to carry along with it underneath the comb plate or which it is attempted to force thereunder, but which is also compressible or deformable so that it Will be squeezed together rather than cut or sheared by any tread which, due to irregularities of manufacture, assembly or wear in operation, is higher than the others, and resilient so as to return to its former condition after the step has passed beyond. Also, it is desirable that the material be such that it can be given a fairly tight fit initially and worn down to the desired size.

Felt has been found to be a suitable material of which to form these guard strips. A tough, strong felt is preferable. The strips may be secured to the comb plate by cementing them thereto. In the case of the strips 25, they may be secured to the sides as well as the tops of the comb plate grooves, permitting a cheaper grade of felt to be used. In an arrangement which has been found suitable in practice, the layers of the felt utilized in the teeth grooves are arranged vertically whereas those beneath the comb plate teeth are arranged horizontally. Leather or rubber of a grade and composition having the above properties may also be used. ln case rubber is employed, it may be secured to the comb plate by vulca-nizing it thereto. Other material having properties such as those above indicated may be used.

Although the guard strips have been described as applied to the comb plate at the upper end of an ascending stairway, it is to be understood that they provide the same protection when utilized in connection with the comb plate at the lower end of a descending stairway. ln the case of .reversible moving stairways, these strips are provided at both ends of the stairway.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made ".vithout departing from `the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

i.. A protective device for a moving stairway of the type in which the tread of each of the steps has a plurality of longitudinally extending cleats and in which a comb having a plurality of longitudinally extending teeth for meshing with said .eats is provided at the end of the stairway comprising, means secured to the underside of the comb beginning at the forward edge of the teeth and extending rearwardly therefrom and substantially lling the space between the bottom o the comb and said treads, said means being o a material and shape to permit free passage ci the treads under said comb but to resist the passage thereunder of things carried by said treads.

2. Protective means for a moving stairway of the type in which the tread of each of the steps has a plurality of longitudinally extending cleats and in which a comb plate having a plurality of longitudinally extending teeth for meshing with said cleats is provided at the exit end of the stairway comprising, deformable elastic material secured to the underside of the comb plate platform and extending rearwardly from the forward edge of said platform in the space between the underside of said platform and the top of the cleats.

3. Protective means for a moving stairway of the type in which the tread of each of the steps` has a plurality of longitudinally extending cleats and in which a metal comb plate having a plurality of longitudinally extending metal teeth for meshing with said cleats is provided at the exit end of the stairway comprising, a plurality of strips of deformable elastic material, one for each of said teeth, secured to the underside thereof beginning at the forward edge of the metal tooth and extending rearwardly therefrom and substantially filling the space between the underside of the tooth and the bottom of the tread groove into which the tooth extends.

fl. Protective means for a moving stairway of the type in which the tread of each of the steps has a plurality of longitudinally extending cleats and in which a comb plate having a plurality of teeth for meshing with said cleats extending llongitudinally beneath the comb plate platform to form grooves therein to receive said cleats is provided at the exit end of the stairway comprising, a plurality of strips of compressible elastic material, one for each of said grooves, secured to the underside of said platform in said grooves and extending from the forward edge of said platform in the spaces between the bottom of said grooves and the top of the cleats.

5. Protective means for a moving stairway of the type in which the tread of each of the steps has a plurality of longitudinally extending cleats and in which a comb plate having a plurality of teeth for meshing with said cleats extending 1ongitudinally beneath the comb plate platform to form grooves therein to receive said cleats is provided at the exit end of the stairway comprising, a plurality of strips of compressible elastic material, one for each of said teeth, secured to the underside thereof beginning at the forward edge of the teeth, said strips being of a thickness to take up the space between the underside of the teeth and the bottom of the grooves between the cleats, and a plurality of additional strips of compressible elastic material, one for each of said grooves in said comb plate platform secured to the underside of said platform in said grooves therein and extending from the forward edge of said platform, said additional strips being of a thickness to take up the space between the bottom of said platform grooves and the top of the cleats.

6. A moving stairway comprising; a plurality of steps, the tread of each of said steps having a plurality of longitudinally extending cleats; a comb plate at the exit end of the stairway, said combi plate having a body portion and a plurality of teeth meshing with said cleats, said teeth extending longitudinally beneath said body portion to form grooves therein to receive said cleats; a plurality of felt strips, one for each of said teeth, cemented to the underside thereof beginning at the forward edge of the teeth and extending rearwardly, said strips being of a thickness to take up the space between the underside of the teeth and the bottom of the grooves between the cleats; and a plurality of additional felt strips, one for each of said grooves in said body portion, cemented to the underside of said body portion in said lgrooves therein beginning at the forward edge thereof and extending rearwardly, said additional strips being of a thickness to take up the space between the bottom of said grooves in said body portion and the top of the cleats, each of said additional strips being bevelled at its forward end so as to deflect anything resting on the top of a cleat onto the comb plate body portion as the tread passes under the comb plate.

HAROLD IRVING ECKERSON. MAURICE FREDERICK FNN. SAMUEL GUSTAVE MARGLES. 

